What Should I Say to a Loved One Who Came Out to Me?

What should I say to a loved one who came out of the closet to me that's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi, I'm Bill Meyer along with pastor Adm. Sanchez. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Our phone lines are open and you can call us for the next 25 minutes at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 course you can always post your question on one of our social media sites and you're welcome to email us at questions at core, Christianity.com burst up today let's go to Alex calling in from Pittsburgh Kansas.

Alex what your question for Israel drill had made in the Bible and believed which is mentioned in the Bible, the book of Enoch which a badge on the Bible that – or along with your scripture reading and in so doing our youth opposed to you but it's like talking to the extent that explain a lot of question the Bible that man Alex, thank you for that question. So then there are several books that were written even before the time of Christ, thinking around 300 BC and and and beyond that that are sometimes referred to as a pseudo-pitiful books or apocryphal to me that different people refer to them in different ways and some of them are quoted in the New Testament. The question is, should they be treated as a part of the canon of Scripture, and there are some tradition to sale. We sort of include them in the secondary sense but but in my mind there's no reason even though they're quoted it at times and places in the New Testament doesn't necessarily mean that they're part of the canon inspired holy Scripture mean the apostle Paul in acts 17 quotes from pagan philosophers that isn't that is admitting that you know what they said or what they wrote is in God's inspired holy word. But oftentimes you know the audiences, to whom these writers were were speaking in the New Testament were familiar with some of these pseudo-pitiful writings, and so there there that referred to.

I'm thinking of places like the book of Jude. But again, that doesn't mean that we should include them in our canon of Scripture.

And there's a number of reasons for this. A lot of times you know what we can find there is many contradictions with the established teaching that we find in holy Scripture.

Maybe historical errors issues just with regard to history and so this is one of the reasons why we don't include those those books and in at least in terms of I think the Hebrews in the Old Testament by thinking about the cortical canon of Scripture.

They were not included in the Hebrew Bible or treated in the exact same way as the holy Scriptures weren't so and so I think we should treat them as holy Scripture. That doesn't mean that we can't read them separate from Scripture, and may be gleaned into or get some insight into on the kinds of ideas that were floating around.

During that time and it might even help illuminate some texts of Scripture like what Jude says in Jude 1 but again I don't believe that that means we should include them in our Bibles. Thank Alex for questions hey Alex, thanks so much for listening to core Christianity.

We really do appreciate it.

We do receive voicemails and you can call us 24 hours a day at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 leave your voicemail.

We do our best to review her voicemails each day is one that came in earlier this week, I pestered your gift for you and everyone at core Christianity, radio, or doing my question is about unconditional election we see election in Scripture is also more talked about for John Calvin and I think Augustine also brings up election. His writings but for someone like me who is a Christian, yet struggles with sin. Each and every day of his life. How do I truly know that I'm one of God's elect. I mean, I believe that Jesus is Lord, I believe she Savior.

I believe that the Scriptures say, but I fall short every day.

When it comes to walk with them. Even if I confess Christ as Lord and Savior and follow him in and abide, according to his word daily by faith in him. Anyhow, I know that I'm saved.

I mean if I'm not God's elect will not be cast away to damnation.

I appreciate your feedback on this. Yeah hey brother, my heart goes out to you because I know personally that the struggle of you really wondering am I am I saved 50 early in my my walk with the Lord. I really struggled with this and when you factor in the doctrine of election or predestination will that adds another component doesn't it because then we begin test will what was I chosen. I believe in Jesus, but in my in my deceiving myself and so you can kinda run around in circles without assurance really questioning and that's not how God wants you to live your life. So the first thing I want to do for you is just pray for you and and pray for all those because I know that there are so many Christians who really wrestle with this one assurance but like you, they say I sin every day I struggle. It's an everyday submit limit, pray first, but I love my brother up to you and with him. I want to lift up everyone who's listening right now who really struggles with confidence that you love them that you forgiven their sins that you've accepted them into your family. The body of Christ.

I pray God that you would help all of them to cling to the promise in your word, the promise of the gospel that instead of looking within Lord and and and trusting in their own holiness or trusting in you know how how advanced they are in the Christian life that they would look outside of themselves and up to you and up to your son Jesus, who demonstrated your love so clearly for us when he went to the cross that we don't have to doubt.

And so I pray for my brother Lord, would you encourage him would you grant him faith strengthen his faith.

Lord in in the promises of your word so that he might rest in your love and your forgiveness. I pray these things got in Jesus name, amen super that's that's the answer it's it's we do each and every one of us. Sin against God every day and thought, word, and indeed and and that's can be a struggle that we experience for the rest of our lives. I think Paul talks about in Romans seven I think you get that struggle. Also in Galatians 5 you know that the flesh wars against the spirit in their the first contrary desires that we have and were were fighting to by the grace of the Spirit in a put to death the sinful desires and honor the Lord walk with the Lord.

But still, every day we struggle with sin. That doesn't mean that you're not a Christian effect.

I think that's it, that's a sign that the spirit of God is in you and at work in your life because you have this. The sense of conviction over your sins, you belong to follow Jesus and to obey his law but you realize man I fall short of that will guess what brother we all do as our confidence in God's love and our salvation can't come first and foremost from our progress in sanctification and the fact that you and I have done really good this week and then next week you struggle with some sinew they go.

Maybe I'm dumb not save note, your confidence has to be in God's word in his promise and what does he say he says that all those who confess their sins are indeed forgiven that he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness is not dependent upon how we feel when we wake up in the morning. It's depended on his promise on his words. What we have to do is look outside of ourselves and cling to the glorious promise of the gospel.

The object of grace of God. It's extended to us through the preaching of the word through the sacraments of grace, baptism and the Lord's supper is often when were talking specifically about the doctrine of election of God's choice of of people from eternity past week we we wanted to get into the mind of going to kill what have you decreed from all eternity. God but that's that's not for us to do brother, God has revealed to us in his word, his will for our lives and the promises that he gives to us that he calls us to cling to is a you said you believe in Jesus that you've received him that you want to to walk with him while we are chosen in Christ so you look to Christ and you look to what he's done and that's what gives us confidence that God is indeed for us because we look at the cross and and what Jesus did for us there and we cling to that and this is one of the reasons brothers and sisters why those ordinances that Jesus left to us in his word are so important it is to hear the preaching of the of the word of God in church on a Sunday morning and in the fact that the grace of God is there for you and you think okay will I know that the preacher is talking to everybody here, but if if he knew how I struggle every day.

I do know that he would be saying this to me we can we all feel that way at times and this is why holy communion can be so important because it's more than just the sort of general word that goes out to the church that God loves sinners who can you know for confess their sin.

They even God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were still sinners.

He sent Christ to die for us.

Paul says in Romans five, but specifically by faith that you get to receive the body and blood of Jesus for you. This is my body given for you. That particular grace that promise of the gospel to us that we need to embrace and to cling to.

And so again we confess our sins, but we don't wallow in them and and and continue assertive with that introspective gave gaze.

We look outside of ourselves and cling to the promise of God's grace to us in his word and that's where we get assurance from and may the Lord bless you with that assurance. As you fix your eyes on Christ brother so well said Israel you know we seem to get so many calls lately about assurance of salvation and I know for many people, especially when their their emotions are, playing havoc with them there.

There feeling down or discouraged about your Christian walk about their life in general and they can start really question their salvation. I love the way that you always turn it back to the historical truth of what Jesus did for us on the cross and not on our feelings on a given day. Amen.

I mean, because that's the only thing that stable right our feelings change into the process of sanctification that were all in it. It's this daily battle but were were not perfect. Nobody perfectly obeys the law of God. We don't perfectly love God and perfectly love our neighbors and so we see that especially if you have a sensitive conscience like this brother does and and you think will. Boy do I really belong to Jesus and I really saved and that's why we have to to focus not on our imperfect obedience for assurance we have to focus on the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ. What he has accomplished in history in his life and his death and his resurrection from the dead, and that gives us hope and so brothers and sisters set your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith that's that's we go so well said you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez would love to hear from you.

If you have any questions about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine or theology.

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Or maybe you're somebody who considers yourself to be an agnostic or an atheist. Here is our phone number 1-833-843-2673. That's 833. The core we do have a resource want to tell you about today and this is actually a great resource for parents or grandparents even for an uncle or aunt.

If you've got kids in your life in some way shape or form. This is something we love to get into your hands I know you've heard this question why does God let bad things happen imply there is Israel and why does God let bad things happen to good people look at the world and there seems to be so much tragedy so much disaster so much brokenness would a good God let that kind of thing take place times referred to as is the, the, the problem of for the question of theodicy is a resource here that is really geared for the younger audience and so it is great as Bill set for parents or grandparents to work through with their with their children who were growing up and and are being asked these kinds of questions are asking themselves this question. Why does God let bad things happen as written by Chris Moore refutes a great little book and you can get over it. Core, Christianity.com for donation of any amount to get a hold of this resource and I know to be a blessing for you and for your family.

Great the resources we said for anybody that's I got kids in their life, and you can find that by going to core Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers course you can call us for any one of our offers at 833, the court well if you have a question for us. We'd love to get your call anytime 24 hours a day. You can leave us a voicemail and let's go to a voicemail that came in from one of our callers earlier went my granddaughter now day. I don't know how you have the conversation. I really didn't initially have a brief conversation where she started crying and I would never expecting, but because it was very family-oriented betting. I didn't have the opportunity to how conversation and I need some direction on what kind, patient, I have kind of put a wedge in our relationship. I don't want to alienate her but at the same time I'm not going to coddle this topic. Thank you must pray for Margie first father we pray for our sister that you would give her wisdom in each of her interactions with her granddaughter, Lord, that you would fill her with your Holy Spirit, that she would be able to exhibit love the fruit of your Holy Spirit, and a firm commitment to your truth to your word and Lord that that love and that conviction would move her granddaughter that she would see her granddaughter would see that she is that she is loved Lord immensely by her family, even where there are disagreements and that she would be drawn to you. Lord, into the truth of your word. Please be with our sister be with her family. We ask in Jesus name, amen. Well you know what I think the first thing that I sounds like this kind of came out in in in a group context and so right. There's not a lot of opportunity to to dig deeper there but I would say following up and I maybe just asking asking some questions initially and re-reaffirming your love for her as your granddaughter and asking questions and trying to understand. I want to stand where where you're coming from on how long has this been a thing me sounds like it's it's been perhaps an issue for for a while. It can be helpful also to distinguish is something that so many people are confused about today, but to distinguish between who you are as a person and your sexual desires too often today, people, people collapse their identity into their their sexual feelings, their desire so that I'm I'm gay.

That's who I am a lesbian that that's that's who I am and so and so who we are as persons is almost defined by our sexual desire. So that's that's not biblical is not the Bible teaches. Your granddaughter is made in the image of God, then that that's first and foremost at the at the core of who she is.

Her identity now how we feel our desires are are part of that but that they don't define us and so sometimes it can be helpful with these conversations to to make that distinguish in that way because so many people. This is the core of my identity, but the reality is, no, it's not the core of our identity and that's that's I think ally of our our culture today that needs to be challenged. I think you want to sister love her. Pray for her not affirm this is this is the big issue here not affirm or just celebrate this.

This decision sounds like that mean it's clear that there some difference here that she understands that that you believe the Bible and I don't know she's she's a professing Christian, but I think that would also help to determine how you approach this discussion whether or not maybe she she believes or says she believes the Bible as well. In which case you would you want to go to the Scriptures and talk with her about what they say but but continue to love her to pray for her, but also as you do that to maintain you know your your convictions as a Christian. What the Bible teaches. I think the heart of the apostle Paul in Romans chapter 9 for his kinsman is family members if you will, according to the flesh is is helpful to think about is I'm speaking the truth in Christ. I'm not lying, my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers. My kinsman according the flesh, they are Israelites into them belong the adoption, the glory that covenants, the giving of the law the worship and the promises to them belong the patriarchs and for that from their race. According to the flesh is the Christ, who is God overall blessed forever. Amen. But the issue is these these kinsman of his. His family members if you will, rejected the gospel and so he says men I I have unceasing anguish in my heart.

I think we should for our loved ones who reject the truth of God's word.

We should have that that anguish and should drive us to prayer should it should drive us to our knees and sing Lord be at work in this situation and and I would say even though even though you're not affirming her decision you're sticking to what the Bible teaches that doesn't mean pulling back from the relationship necessarily. I think I think even pressing in to the relationship exhibiting your love for her. Just as a person and continuing to cultivate that relationship to ask questions and to enter pray for opportunities to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to bear in the truth of God's word as it relates to identity and sexuality and who we are as persons created in the image of God falling with sinful desires, but granted grace and restoration through Jesus Christ and so may the Lord be with you Margie in and give you wisdom in those conversations, and be with your granddaughter as well. Opening her heart to him and drawing her closer and closer to himself great counsel Israel.

Thank you. Just a follow-up question for you. How should we respond to, let's say a friend or loved one who says okay I'm gay you have to accept it knowledge that you have to affirm that you have to endorse it or you don't really love me will work were talking about how how love is defined and you know the some people just have incorrect definitions of love. Love does not mean that we have to affirm every decision that an individual makes and celebrated.

And if you have children who you love dearly.

You know that this is that this is just not the case right art. Our children can make all sorts of decisions that we don't celebrate because we see the okay this is a dangerous thing you know your you don't want to run into the middle of the road and if you do, there are consequences because we love you and we care about you and so there just that a lot of confusion out there about what love is. I think that we we have to get to the core of what love is understanding it according to Scripture, not on you know how it's been redefined by buyer culture and exhibit true love to these individuals which which doesn't look like just you know, you know, shutting the door on them in and say I can't believe you you're horrible, no, no, that's not what it is it.

It's a call to sacrifice to care for, to take an interest in individuals without just sort of affirming everything that they do and so I think we can do that right well said this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go back to the phones. John is on the line from St. Louis, Missouri. John what your question for atrial NORAD Yuri Charlotte.

Every time I get a chance to go anyway sorry for Christ coming which is the bigger sign that were living in right now as far as Christ's coming back and our thing is, what if a better draft of the Jesus said in Psalm be a chamber working the Lord, O Lord, okay. Does that mean a lot to me when he said that draft of the somber bits of the deed of equal with God so that Jesus will then submit to God the father